Sometimes a bargains haul comes along that perfectly aligns with my bad habit of adding more to my backlog than I clear. This idle Tuesday’s mix is an irresistible blend of heavy hitters and cult curios that deserve a spot in anyone’s library. As per always, I’ve found myself revisiting old favourites and even picking up a few oddities I’d somehow missed.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I’m celebrating the 42nd birthday of Mario Bros., the arcade cabinet that launched a plumbing empire. Partially inspired by some of Joust‘s mechanics (and an Italian-American landlord hounding Nintendo for rent), Mario Bros. was a non-scrolling arena affair that was quite addictive, especially in simultaneous two-player. Interestingly, it was made by a tiny team of just five people, all of whom were credited in its great, great, great, (great) grandchild, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Sadly, we rarely see such a lineage occur in modern game development, given how lay off happy this bloody industry has become.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

This Day in Gaming

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

– Mario Bros. (ARC) 1983. Get

– Warlords III (PC) 1997. Get

– Trials HD (X360) 2009. Sequel

– Hacknet (PC) 2015. Get

Contents

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

On Switch, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival still has me grinning like an idiot, and I swear drumming along to J-pop is a proper cardio workout. Meanwhile, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy remains one of the most cleverly written series ever, with its sharp courtroom drama and over-the-top character animations.

• LEGO Jurassic World (-55%) – A$26.90 A solid LEGO adventure that gene-splices JP nostalgia with fun building action. Effortlessly leaps generation gaps in one double-jump bound.
• Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythm Festival (-40%) – A$41.60 Perfect for parties or solo jam sessions, this rhythm game’s varied soundtrack keeps me coming back for more.
• LEGO Skywalker Saga (-39%) – A$54.90 Covers all nine Star Wars films with LEGO’s trademark humour and charm. Sith hot value at this price.
• Darkwood (-75%) – A$5.40 Creepy top-down survival horror that nails atmosphere and tension. A steal for fans of indie horror on Switch.
• SNK 40th Ann. Col. (-65%) – A$21 A massive collection of SNK’s classic fighters and arcade gems. Not gonna lie, there’s some filler. But bona fide classics also await.
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (-67%) – A$13.10 Courtroom drama and quirky characters make this visual novel series a must-own that I don’t think you’ll object to at all.

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Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

Series X gets the spotlight with 40K Space Marine 2, a power fantasy where bolter fire and chainswords feel just right. And then there’s Wild Hearts, which gave me a genuine Monster Hunter alternative with some creative monster designs I still think about.

• 40K Space Marine 2 (-54%) – A$49.90 Brutal third-person shooter with kick arse co-op. If you like grim sci-fi, this is a solid single-player deal, too.
• Forza Horizon 5 (-50%) – A$49.90 One of the best open-world racing games around, and this price makes it an absolute key turn.
• Cyberpunk 2077 Ult. Ed. (-36%) – A$77 The Ultimate Edition packs in all expansions and fixes. Worth it if you’ve been cy-curious since those iffy launch results.
• Wild Hearts (-86%) – A$14.90 Monster hunting with a fresh twist, offering great value at this historic low price.
• Sonic X Shadow Generations (-35%) – A$40.40 Classic Sonic action meets new adventures. This sale is a good chance to catch up with the blue ‘n’ black blurs.

Xbox One

• LEGO Marvel Col. (-50%) – A$44.50 An older Collection packed with superhero fun, perfect for casual play or Marvel fans looking for hours of kleptomania.
• Monopoly 2024 (-60%) – A$20 The classic board game gets a 2024 refresh. Won’t blow your mind, but a great price for family game nights.
• SpellForce III Reforced (-52%) – A$31 A solid RTS-RPG hybrid with a dedicated community. This sale makes it an accessible entry point.

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Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

Over on PS5, Tales of Arise had me hooked with its gorgeous anime visuals and surprisingly heartfelt story arcs. Resident Evil 4 needs no introduction, but its remake really is the gold standard for how to modernise a classic.

• Ghost of Yōtei (-21%) – A$99 Looks like atmospheric action with haunting visuals so far. I dug (and replayed) GoT so much, a quick-draw preorder for feels quite likely for me.
• Crisis Core FF7 Reunion (-42%) – A$48.90 Classic FF7 story told with fresh mechanics and visuals. I very much appreciated this updated experience.
• Mafia: The Old Country (-12%) – A$79 A narrative-driven crime drama with solid gameplay. Not the deepest discount but still tempting.
• Tales of Arise (-68%) – A$32.30 A standout JRPG with beautiful art and a strong story. Worth it for this much gold.
• Resident Evil 4 (-35%) – A$64.90 The classic horror-action game remastered. Absolute top-tier Resi action that is even more phenomenal in PS VR2 (like, system-selling good).
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza (-25%) – A$74.90 Quirky open-world action with a tropical twist. A fresh Yakuza experience well worth the doubloons IMO.

PS4

• Gran Turismo 7 (-27%) – A$61 The definitive racing sim on PS4. This discount makes it a solid pick for my fellow (yet incredibly patient or late to the grid) petrolheads.
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (-53%) – A$47.10 Intense fighting action with a stellar roster. Great deal for anime loves and folks who wish to bring back the biff of their ’00s, Cheez TV watching youth.
• Armored Core VI (-55%) – A$45 Mech combat returns with depth and style. I was surprised by how much I dug this non-Souls FromSoftware title.

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PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Aug 1 with this subscription

• Lies of P | PS5, PS4
• DayZ | PS4
• My Hero One’s Justice 2 | PS4

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

PC-wise, Pillars of Eternity: Definitive Ed. delivers deep role-playing from Obsidian at their best, while Wasteland 3: Colorado Col. offers sharp writing and tactical combat that blends post-apocalyptic grit with absurd humour. These are the sorts of games that keep me up far later than I plan.

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Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

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Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that’s worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.